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31
Jan
'Outrageous': Harrogate MP criticises Yorkshire Water bills hike
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has criticised Yorkshire Water’s decision to hike bills by £135 this year and described the move as “outrageous”.
The company said the rise is part of an £8.3 billion spend in the next five years to upgrade infrastructure. The increase was approved by the water regulator, Ofwat, in December last year.
It means bills for customers will rise by 29% which equates to an additional £11 per month.
Mr Gordon said the government had given the company “free rein” to hike rates.
He said:
This is an outrageous bill rise. Instead of tackling Yorkshire Water or taking them to task, the government has given them free rein - and residents in Harrogate and Knaresborough are paying the price.
It’s a disgrace that water companies have been able to hike our bills - a third of which goes on servicing debt - while they fail to fix leaks and pollute our rivers and streams.
Bill payers are being penalised for the failure of water companies to invest well and provide a good service for customers and the environment. This cannot go on. The people of Yorkshire deserve better.
Mr Gordon called on the government to implement a single social tariff urgently to support vulnerable customers struggling to meet their water bills,
However, Nicola Shaw, Yorkshire Water chief executive, said the investment would boost Yorkshire’s economy.
She said:
This is our largest ever environmental investment and will lead to a step change in service and the resilience of our infrastructure above and below ground.
Our plans are backed by our customers, who want to see a focus on environmental improvements, and a major aim throughout our planning process has been to deliver the high levels of investment customers want, while keeping bills as affordable as possible.
Yorkshire Water said all customers will be contacted directly with the exact details of their bill through the normal billing cycle which begins in February.
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